When Rowland Sinclair is invited to take his yellow Mercedes onto the Maroubra Speedway, renamed the Killer Track for the lives it has claimed, he agrees without caution or reserve.

But then people start to die.

The body of a journalist covering the race is found in a House of Horrors, an English blueblood with Blackshirt affiliations is killed on the race track. and it seems that someone has Rowland in their sights.

A strange young reporter preoccupied with black magic, a mysterious vagabond, an up-and-coming actor by the name of Flynn, and ruthless bookmakers all add mayhem to the mix.

With danger presenting at every turn, and the brakes long since disengaged, Rowland Sinclair hurtles towards disaster with an artist, a poet and brazen sculptress along for the ride.

I love historical crime novels, and while this one is set in a later period than I usually read, that does not make it any less enjoyable. 1930s Australia is a brilliant era to play with, and Sulari Gentill does a fantastic job of it.

I’ve started this series with the seventh book, but this does not detract from the story at all. Starting from the first would give a better insight to the characters, but each book essentially stands alone.

The plot was fantastic, and the characters all wonderful. Rowland himself is a charming young man, and I really enjoyed his outlook on life. My absolute favourite though, was Edna Higgins – a woman quite determined to not conform to societal expectations of women in the most delightfully determined way.

The historical references were spot on, and having real life people move through the story was a very nice touch. I also really enjoyed the newspaper excerpts, they really added to the depth and authenticity of the book.

Fans of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries will enjoy the Rowland Sinclair books, as will anyone that enjoys historical fiction in general.